Dough Press Leverage and Adjustable Plate Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Flattening dough manually is labor-intensive and inefficient, and achieving consistent thickness is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A dough press with an adjustable lower press-plate and a pivotally connected upper press-plate, driven by a handle, which allows for adjustable height and reduced physical effort through leverage and reduced friction, enabling consistent dough flattening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual flattening of dough is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but labor intensity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The dough press is designed to perform the flattening operation automatically once the dough is placed between the press plates. The user simply needs to apply downward force on the handle, and the mechanism self-regulates to flatten the dough to the desired thickness without requiring continuous manual intervention or skill
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical flattening process with a lever-based mechanical system. The handle acts as a lever arm that amplifies the user's input force, and the pivot point provides mechanical advantage to achieve high pressing force with minimal user effort, thereby substituting manual labor with a mechanical assistance system
2Manufacturing precision
If manual flattening is used, then device complexity is minimized, but manufacturing precision of dough thickness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The press plates are pre-configured with specific geometries, surface textures, and thickness specifications. The lower press plate is positioned at a predetermined height relative to the base, and the upper press plate is designed with a specific curvature and thickness profile. These preliminary configurations ensure that when the press is activated, the dough is flattened to a consistent, predetermined thickness without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable parameters such as the height of the lower press plate (via the recess depth selection) and the pressing force (via handle position) to control the flattening outcome. By changing these physical parameters of the press structure, consistent dough thickness can be achieved across multiple operations without increasing device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed press-plate height is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different dough thickness requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple recesses at different depths, and the lower press plate can be positioned in different recesses to achieve different initial heights. This segmentation allows the press to accommodate different dough thickness requirements by simply repositioning the press plate to a different pre-configured level, providing adaptability without requiring a complex continuous adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The lower press plate is designed to be movable and repositionable between different recesses in the base. This dynamic positioning capability allows the user to adjust the initial height of the press plate according to the specific dough thickness requirement, making the device adaptable to various pressing needs while maintaining a simple discrete adjustment mechanism rather than a complex continuous control system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dough press reduces user effort and ensures consistent dough thickness, making the dough flattening process more efficient and easier to manage.
Implementation Method 1
The handle is connected to the base seat and is pivotable relative to the base seat to drive pivot movement of the upper press-plate relative to the base seat toward the lower press-plate, thereby compressing and flattening the dough between the upper and lower press-plates
Data Source
AI summary
A dough press includes a handle and a press unit that includes a base seat, a lower press-plate and an upper press-plate. The base seat has a first recess sub-unit and a second recess sub-unit, each having at least one recess. A depth of the at least one recess of the second recess sub-unit is different from that of the at least one recess of the first recess sub-unit. The lower press-plate has an engaging sub-unit removably engaged with the at least one recess of a selected one of the first and second recess sub-units. The handle is pivotable relative to the base seat to drive pivot movement of the upper press-plate toward the lower press-plate, thereby compressing and flattening a dough.